Automatic lock for bearings.



NS- 829,658. PATENTED AUG. 28, 1906 B. F. LEAVI'I'T.

AUTOMATIC LOOK FOR BEARINGS. APPLIQATION FILED DBU.1, 1905.

.3 74:; awrw y/ member shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

shows the bearing member of the structure collar may be secured insupporting member 13.

BENJAMIN F. LEAVITT, OF NORWICH, CONNECTICUT.

AUTOMATIC LOCK FOR BEARINGS.

"no. ceases.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 28, 1906.

Application filed December 1, 1906. Serial No. 289,760-

To all whom it may concern.-

, Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. LEAVITT, 'a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing in N orwich; in the county of New London and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAutomatic Locks for'Bearings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to automatic locks especially adapted forthe adjustable arts ofi-a hearing, such as an antifriction orallbearing. I

The'object of the invention is to produce a construction wherein theadjustable member of'a bearing element when given the proper adjustmentwill be automatically locked in "such'position and which member may bemoved in either direction for adjustment within a certain range, yetwill be automatically locked in such adjusted positions.

In the accompanying drawings is shown two embodiments of my inventionorganized for use in a balLbearing, in which Figure 1is an axialsection, partly in elevation. Fig. 2 is an end view of the structureshown in Fig. 1. *Fig. 3 shows the adjusting Fig. 4

of Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 5 is an axial section through a modification ofthe device shown in. Figs. 1' and 2. Fig. 6 shows the adjustable bearingmember of Fig. 5, and Fi 7 shows a modified form of the autom atic loc'ng means.

The journal 12 is mounted for rotation in a vidcd with an annular groove14 for engagement .With a series of antifriction members, such as balls15 the groove being curved corresponding with .the curvature of theballs. In Fig. 1 the supporting member 13 is shown as bya shoulder 17 ofthe support, and which such position by being tightly fitted in thesupporting member or by other means. The bearing is provided withadjustable bearing element that is turn -lied with automatic lockingmeans cooperating with the supporting member 13 to re the bearingelement in adj ustcd positionin the structure shown in Fig. 1 thebearing element comprises two members. One of the members consists of aring or col- 1211' 18, that is movable axially in the bore 19 of thesupportin member to and from the fixed bearing-col ar 16, whereby tomove the balls inward into proper engagement with the The journal ispro--.

provided with a collar 16, that is engaged.

groove in the journal. This collar 18 is shown as provided with atransverse slot 20 .in its periphery, into which slot projects asuitable detent, such, as a .screw 21, tapped into a threaded aperture22 in the supporting member 13. This screw and slot Wlll preventrotation of the collar 18 in the supporting member, but will permitaxial movement thereof. The other member of the bearing elementscrew-threaded to engage the internally threaded bore 19 of the suportin member 13. Upon rotation of the t eade collar 23 by any suitablemeans it will enga e the bearing-collar 18 and advance the atter intoproper engagement with the balls 15. For the purpose of automaticallylocking this adjusting-collar 23 to'the supporting member 13 a spring issecured on the outer or side face of one of these two members, and theries of projecting portions. The spring and projecting portions are soorganized that upon the two collars of this bearing element beingroperly adjusted the spring will engage t e projecting portions andautomatically lock the adjustingcollar 23 against movement; but theflexibility of the spring will permit the rotation of theadjusting-collar within a certain range in either direction from saidposition, yet still engage the said member to lock the collar- One formof such automatic lock is shown as comprising a spring 24, secured tothe locking-ring 23 by suitable means, such as rivets, whichspring isprovided with a projection 25, extending inwardly a short distance.

The end or diametral face 26 of the supcular series of engaging portionsshown as consisting of recesses 27. The end faces of the supportingmember and adjusting-ring are formed to be in a substantiallyregistering or flush position upon the proper adjustment of the twomembers of this hearing cle ment, or the outer face of the adjustingbeyond the end face of the supporting member.

By this arrangement the spring 24, projecting rad iallyoutward,will bein position to have its projection 25 engage the recesses 27 a certainrange of move nent. Any suitable means may be provided for properlyengaging the adjustin -ring 23 for turning the same, it beiii'g SIOWI!as having two diaporting member 13 is provided with a cm.

consists of a collar .23, that is externally other member is providedwith a circular seto lock the ringinits adj jstcd positions withinmetrically opposite apertures i138, that maybe engaged by a suitablespanner device in the well-known manner.

In Fig. 5 is shown a similar organization for automatic adjustment, butin which the adjustable bearing element is formed of a single memberinstead of two members, as has been herein set forth. In this instancethe journal 2 is iiiounted in the supporting member 13 and supportedtherefrom by the balls 15, that engage the fixed bearing-ring 16, as setforth in the description of Fig. 1. The supporting member 13 is providedwith the threaded bore 19, and into this bore is screwed a bearingmember orcollar 30, that engages the balls 15 by its inner face. Thisadjusting-collar 30 is so formed that when adjusted to engage the balls15 its outer end face will be about flush with the end face of thesupporting member 13 or else project a slight distance therebetween. The-adjust' ing-collar 30 is provided with a spring 31, similar to thespring 24, secured to the-adjusting-collar 23; This spring 31, that'issecured to the bearingelement 30in any suitable manner, such as byrivets, is provide with a projection 32 on its inner face. Thespring'projection'32 is arranged to engage with the apertures 27 on thediametral face of thcsupporting member 13, and thereby serves toautomatically lock the adjustalrle bearing element 30 in the same manneras described with reference to 1.

In Fig. 7 is shown a modification of the automatic locking meansapplicable to the construction of Fig. 5. In this arrangement thelocking-spring is mounted on the supporting member 13, while thecircular series of engaging portions are formed on the inner adjustablebearing element, which may either be the locking-ring 19 or theadjustable hearing element 30. A spring 33 is pivoted at 34 on thesupporting member and has its other extremity extending transversely andpro vidcd with a projecting portion 35, which portion overhangs theadjustable bearing member 36 for engagement with the recesses 37therein. To permit insertion and removal of the ring 36, the spring 33is swung outward on its pivot 34, which will bring the end portioncarryingthe projection 35 out of the path of movement of the ring 36.The spring 33 is shown as normally retained in locking position by meansof a projection 38, that may engage a suitable recess in the supportingmember 13.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- I 1. The combination of anI externally-l threaded member, a member having a threaded bore engagedby said member, and a spring secured to one of said threaded members,the other of said threaded members being provided with a circular seriesof engaging portions arranged to be engaged successivelyby a part of thespring upon rotation 1 ranged spring projection to lock the bearingelement saaeaa of the threaded members, whereby the members areautomatically locked in adjusted positions.

2. The combination of an externallythreaded member, a member having athreaded bore engaged bysaid member, and

a spring secured to one of said threaded mem-.

bers and provided with a projection, the other of said threaded membersbeing'provied with a circular series of recesses successively engaged bythe spring projection upon relative movement of the threaded members,whereb the members are automatically locked in adjusted positions.

3. The combination of a member having an internal thread, a memberexternally threaded to screw into said member, one of said members beingprovided with a spring, the other member being providedwith a circularseries of engaging portions disposed in a diametral plane andsuccessively engaged by the spring upon relative rotation of the ment:

bers, whereby the members are automatically locked inadjusted'positions.

4. The combination of a member having an internal thread, a memberhaving an external thread and arranged to screw into said member, and aspring secured to the externally-threaded member and having aprojection, said internally-threaded member being provided with acircular series of recesses on a-diametral face arranged to be engagedsuccessively by the, spring projection upon relative rotation of thethreaded members to automatically lock the members in adjustedpositions.

5. In a bearing, the combination of a sup-. portir member provided withathreaded aring clement adjustable axially in 1 the bearing elementhaving a part provided with an external thread engaging the threadedbore to adjust the bearing element in the support, the supporting memberand bearing element tomatic locking means comprising a spring secured toone of said members, the other of said members being provided with acircular series of engaging portions successively enbeing provided with3111'."

gaged by the spring upon rotation of the bearing element. v

6. in a bearing, the combination of a supporting member provided with athreaded bore, a bearing element adjustable insaid bore and having apart provided with an external thread engaging the threaded bore,

a spring secured to the outer face of the bearing element and providedwith a projection, the end face of the supporting member provided with acircular series of recesses arto be engaged successively by the inadjusted positions:

7. In a bearing, the combinationof a supporting member provided with athreaded bore, a bearing element located in said bore beingandcomprising two collar members, one of the collar members being providedwith a bearing-surface and having a transverse slot in its periphery, aprojection on the supporting member extending into said slot to per-'mit axial movement of the bearing-collar but prevent its rotation in thebore, the other collar of the bearing element being providedwithexternal threads engaging the threaded bore of'the supportingmember, a spring fast on the end face of the threaded collar, the endface of the support1ng member being provided with a circular series ofrecesses arranged to be successively engaged by said leck the threaded15' spring to automatically collar in adjusted positions. t p

Signed at Nos. 9 to 15 Murray street, New York, N. Y., this 29th day ofNovember, 1905.

BENJAMIN ELEAVITT; Witnessesr A F. E. BOYCE, WILLIAM H. REID.

